On 11 November 1780 a debating club was founded by young men from Tarbolton parish, inspired by one that was established in Ayr, by Robert Burns, Gilbert Burns, Hugh Reid, Alexander Brown, Thomas Wright, William M’Gavin and Walter Mitchell.
Robert Burns was unanimously elected president for the first meeting, held in the property of John Richard, used as an ale-house. David Sillar, who lived nearby, was added to the list of founders in May 1781, followed by Matthew Paterson, James Paterson, and John Orr in 1782.
The Bachelors’ Club continued in operation for some years after Burns left the district.
A guide track for ‘William M’Gavin’ is available below for listening: -
You can download a PDF of the sheet music here
- or braille format here.
The track is additionally available within the following collections and sets: -
Associated Collections: -
5/4
Ayrshire Characters
Bachelors Club
Bagpipe
March
Not Yet Recorded
Robert Burns
The Tarbolton Collection
The Three Six Five Collection
